Australia did all it could: Commander

The acting border protection commander praised the response to the sinking of an asylum-seeker boat.Source: AAP

THE acting head of Australia's border protection operation has praised the nation's professional and timely response to the fatal sinking of an asylum-seeker boat off Indonesia that's claimed up to 36 lives.

As Prime Minister Tony Abbott was in Indonesia for talks with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, his government was facing questions about its handling of the sinking off Java on Friday.

But Operation Sovereign Borders Acting Commander, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, says Australian authorities took "every step available to them" in responding to the tragedy.

Air Marshal Binskin denied reports of a 26-hour delay in responding to the unfolding crisis, after some survivors said they contacted Australian authorities on Thursday.

He said Australian authorities first learned the vessel was in distress at 7.57am (AEST) on Friday, and conducted extensive work to try to find the vessel with highly capable search aircraft and diverting four merchant ships.

"Our response was professional and timely," he said.

"Despite these efforts no searching ships or aircraft ever sighted the vessel."

Indonesian authorities say the death toll has risen to 36 and concede the ongoing search operation is now about recovering the dead rather than finding anyone else alive.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison called the disaster a "chilling reminder of what can occur when you put your life in the hands of criminals".

He dismissed claims by some survivors that passengers were taken to the boat in trucks driven by Indonesian soldiers.

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